Jacob's Ring Ladder

I think that everyone has seen a wooden Jacob's ladder sometime in their life. Well this one is made from split rings and it is just as fun. It is inexpensive and it takes no special tools or glue. It is easy to construct if you follow the following six steps

Step 1: Rings

You are going to need split

rings. These are the rings that are used for key chains. This ladder is made from 25mm rings however 32mm, 36mm, or 50mm rings would be just fine. (I recommend the younger the child this toy is for, the bigger the rings.) Thy are available at most any craft store and are really cheap on ebay. You can also use binder rings but they aren't as sleak and don't move as smoothly.

Step 2: The Start

four rings and assemble them as shown in the photo.

Step 3: Add a Level Part 1

Take a new ring and connect it to the ring on the right, one layer up from the bottom ring. It needs to be in front of bottom ring.

Step 4: Add a Level Part 2

Connect a new ring through both the bottom two rings.

Step 5: Add a Level Part 3

The new level has just been added. Just give it a 90 degree counter clockwise turn to align the bottom ring for the next layer.

Step 6: Repeat Till Complete

Repeat steps 3, 4 and 5 for each new layer until you have the ladder as longer as you like. How long is that? Well I made this with 20 rings because that was the in two packages. You probably Iwant at least 6 rings. I once made one with 100 rings and it was over four feet long. I suppose you could make one with 1000 rings and try to get into the Guinness book of records. (You would have to work it from the side of a five story building.) You could make it a bedtime ritual of adding another layer every night before going to sleep. I just long enough is what you define it.